The THOMSON CELEBRATION is seen departing from Liverpool on Sunday October 26, 2008 bound for refit at A&P Falmouth.

THOMSON CELEBRATION had spent the entire three days and nights of her "Taste of Ireland Cruise" at the West Langton Cruise Terminal, Liverpool (left). She had failed to sail "due to adverse weather conditions."

Highlights for passengers enduring the stay at Langton were panoramic views of the scrap berths, the blue transit sheds and if you were lucky to have a cabin high enough on the port side a river view and the occasional view of the Welsh Mountains poking up behind the Wirral Peninsular. There was also the added attraction of a shuttle bus to the Albert Dock even though many of the passengers had been there before one at least actually lived there!

Fortunately the passing ships which included the scheduled sailings of Norfolk Line, P&O Irish Sea and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to Dublin, Belfast and Douglas provided some breaks in monotony for the several shipping enthusiasts who were unfortunate to be on board!

Why the Olympic Flame? - Well some people thought the ship had developed the characteristic of never going out!

The THOMSON CELEBRATION was bareboat chartered by TUI Group from Holland America Line, part of the Carnival Corporation at the time the above photographs were taken. The ship was subsequently bought by the TUI Group in 2010.